Beyond the commanding presence and usable front yard we've gained--forget the mower gymnastics of the former yard-- the wood wall creates little nooks for spots of colorful flowers.

Equipment tip.

If you aren't a professional, but want a professional-looking result, take the time to get the right tools for the job. It doesn't always make sense to invest in professional-grade tools and equipment if you are only building one retaining wall. Rent the equipment or tools. We do.

We rented equipment and put our equipment-master friend Mike at the helm to dig most of the post holes, making the job much smoother, take less time, and way more fun.

Do it right the first time.

Building a retaining wall takes careful planning, and if you want to build a wall like the one at our house, you might need to have your local building inspector measure the post hole depth before you can start making above-ground progress.